Tehsil staff accused of illegal land allotment to outsiders in Uttar Pradesh

A major land fraud controversy has erupted in Raniganj tehsil of Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh, where gram sabha land is alleged to have been illegally allotted to outsiders through manipulation of official records. The case involves hundreds of bighas of land in Damdam village, where tehsil employees are accused of tampering with files to transfer government-owned barren land to residents of other districts.

According to villagers, the fraud was carried out by flouting established procedures and altering records related to government land allotment. The alleged collusion between tehsil staff and outsiders has resulted in gram sabha land being transferred to people from different districts, bypassing the rightful claims of local residents. The manipulation of official files has raised serious questions about the functioning and integrity of the tehsil administration.

Following complaints from the villagers, an investigation was conducted into the matter. The probe revealed irregularities, and subsequently a competent authority issued an order canceling the leases of approximately 68 bighas of land. The directive further instructed that this cancelled land be restored and recorded back in the gram sabha's account. However, despite the clear order from the competent authority, villagers allege that the arbitrary behavior of tehsil employees has ensured that even after a considerable period has elapsed since the order was passed, the 68 bighas of land have still not been recorded in the gram sabha's account in the revenue records.

The villagers have expressed deep resentment over the alleged fraudulent allotment of gram sabha land to outsiders. They are questioning why the revenue records have not been updated despite explicit orders from a competent authority to cancel the 68-bigha lease and restore the land to the gram sabha account. The failure to implement the order has fueled suspicions of continued malpractice and raised doubts about the accountability of officials handling land records.

The entire episode has cast a shadow over the working procedures of the tehsil office. Villagers are now demanding a high-level investigation into the entire matter, a thorough probe into the files related to the allegedly fraudulent leases, and strict action against officials and employees found guilty in the scam. They insist that all aspects of the manipulation must be examined and those responsible held accountable.

Critical questions remain unanswered in this case. Despite the cancellation of leases, it is still unclear in whose name the 68 bighas of gram sabha land are currently registered and why there is such a delay in recording it back in the gram sabha's account. All eyes are now on the administrative action that will be taken in this matter, as both villagers and observers await decisive steps to resolve the controversy and restore the land to its rightful owner.